So Moses is this ordinary guy, right? And God appears to him through a burning bush and calls him by name. He goes on to tell him that he will be used as God's mouthpiece to the Egyptians, who are enslaving the Jews. That he is to go to Pharoh, himself, and tell this powerful king to release his people. Moses replies: "What if they don't believe me, God? What if they don't listen to me? After all, I'm not a very good speaker. I'm not very eloquent. My tongue gets tied all the time. I stutter and stammer. Can you please just send someone else?"
Don't we find ourselves doing this in the face of God's call in our lives? I certainly do. We read or hear what Christ calls us to and we write it off as metaphor. "Certainly you can't mean that, Lord!?! That's just asking too much! I'm only human, after all!" We feel like we might be hearing God's call for us, but our first thought is to the umpteen excuses we can make for not following; or for not even listening further. Maybe we let shame get in the way -- "why would God want to use me?"
God doesn't live in those limits, and He isn't concerned with our limits. He likes to color outside the lines, and that kind of freaks us out because it messes with our expectations. But His concern is the redemption and deliverance of his people. For some reason His method for going about the business of redemption and deliverance is through His people. Moses was made into an agent of God's redemption and deliverance. And there is redemption and deliverance for him in this personal transformation. As the story continues, his insecurities seem to vanish. He speaks with great confidence before the leader of a powerful civilization. He becomes the person God already knew him to be, while he was still proclaiming his inadequacies at the burning bush. One who is redeemed becomes an agent of redemption.
God desires to redeem this world and this community. Though I haven't seen any flaming shrubbery, I think He is very clearly calling us to that task at Fellowship of Memorial. He already knows our shortcomings, so there's probably no use hiding behind them or offering them up in place of ourselves. How then will we respond?
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Pray that our teachers would hear God's Spirit and faithfully teach God's word. Hebrews 13:7
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Not Just Any Milkshake - Countdown Day 8
1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of everything is near; so be sensible and clear-headed for the sake of your prayers. Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. As good managers of God's grace in its various forms, serve one another with the gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must speak God's words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies, so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever! Amen
Several years ago my twin brother was at Baskin Robbins and he ordered a chocolate milkshake. It seemed to take a little longer than he expected, but the young high school kid behind the counter was also very meticulous with his "milkshake skills". Jason paid the young man and as he handed the drink to Jason he held tightly to the cup. Jason, recognizing the tug the employee put on the cup, looked up and made eye contact with the kid at which time the kid said, "Sir, this will be the best milkshake you have ever had. (long dramatic pause) Seriously." Jason smiled awkwardly and walked away. In the parking lot he took his first spoonful, and you know what? That little zit-faced high school punk was right...it was the best milkshake he had ever had, and Jason went back and told him that.
"...when you serve do it with the strength that God provides so that in everyway God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Glory and power to him forever and ever. Amen."
FOMers are helpers I like to say! But when you help, remember it isn't for the glory of self, or for FOM to be lifted up it is for people to see God through the Jesus you are to them each time they enter our midst. So what is your "milkshake"? It is wherever you are serving. Your milkshake is running lights, building/striking the set, putting up signs, taking care of kids, greeting, setting up the lobby, singing, teaching, etc. etc. When you do those things please don't do them unto FOM, do them unto the Lord...for His glory! So that when people leave our service we can with confidence look them in the eye and say, "This will be the best Sunday morning experience you have ever had. Seriously."
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Pray that children who attend FOM events would grow to love God and one another
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Posted by Chris Archinal
The end of everything is near; so be sensible and clear-headed for the sake of your prayers. Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. As good managers of God's grace in its various forms, serve one another with the gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must speak God's words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies, so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever! Amen
Several years ago my twin brother was at Baskin Robbins and he ordered a chocolate milkshake. It seemed to take a little longer than he expected, but the young high school kid behind the counter was also very meticulous with his "milkshake skills". Jason paid the young man and as he handed the drink to Jason he held tightly to the cup. Jason, recognizing the tug the employee put on the cup, looked up and made eye contact with the kid at which time the kid said, "Sir, this will be the best milkshake you have ever had. (long dramatic pause) Seriously." Jason smiled awkwardly and walked away. In the parking lot he took his first spoonful, and you know what? That little zit-faced high school punk was right...it was the best milkshake he had ever had, and Jason went back and told him that.
"...when you serve do it with the strength that God provides so that in everyway God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Glory and power to him forever and ever. Amen."
FOMers are helpers I like to say! But when you help, remember it isn't for the glory of self, or for FOM to be lifted up it is for people to see God through the Jesus you are to them each time they enter our midst. So what is your "milkshake"? It is wherever you are serving. Your milkshake is running lights, building/striking the set, putting up signs, taking care of kids, greeting, setting up the lobby, singing, teaching, etc. etc. When you do those things please don't do them unto FOM, do them unto the Lord...for His glory! So that when people leave our service we can with confidence look them in the eye and say, "This will be the best Sunday morning experience you have ever had. Seriously."
----------------
Pray that children who attend FOM events would grow to love God and one another
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Posted by Chris Archinal
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Larry is Coming for Dinner - Countdown Day 9
Our brothers and sisters of the Jewish tradition annually observe Passover. It is the celebration of the Israelites exodus from Egypt and their freedom from bondage. At the feast of the Passover, or Seder, there are four cups of wine imbibed and a fifth cup is reserved for the prophet Elijah who is the honored guest of the Seder. Jews believe that Elijah will return to foretell of the coming of the Messiah.
I love Elijah. He’s the guy in the Old Testament who took on the prophets of Baal, was fed by ravens, and got to go to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by a chariot and horses of fire. As if all of that wasn’t enough, God lets him appear with Moses on the mountain at the transfiguration of Christ. Peter, James and John are there and they want to just set up shop on the mountain. God, of course, had a different plan.
Tradition is great, especially something like the Passover that is filled with prophecy regarding the Messiah, Jesus Christ. But, I tend to want to look at things differently. Elijah has already gotten to do his thing. He probably won’t be showing up for dinner at my table even if I were to save him a glass of wine. Jesus Christ is here. Now. Aren’t we required then to look at things differently?
So, who will be showing up at my table for dinner? Who will be showing up at your table for dinner? I’ll tell you that at my house Larry is coming for dinner. We are all really excited about it too. We aren’t sure how we will communicate with him because Larry is deaf. I don’t know anything else about Larry. God knows everything about him though.
A year or so ago, God hit me over the head with a scripture I had never noticed. In Luke 14, Jesus is dining in the home of a Pharisee. Everybody is making a big deal about who is going to sit at the head of the table. Jesus gives them some advice about being humble and then he gives it, the challenge: “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then, at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” Wow! Trust me; I’m not godly for inviting Larry to eat with us because he is deaf. I’m just literal and that happens to be someone who God put in my life. That’s really the point. Who is the Larry in your life?
As cool as Elijah is, he’s not coming to dinner. But, because of Jesus Christ, Larry is.
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Pray that people in our Community Groups would grow in love and concern for one another.
I love Elijah. He’s the guy in the Old Testament who took on the prophets of Baal, was fed by ravens, and got to go to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by a chariot and horses of fire. As if all of that wasn’t enough, God lets him appear with Moses on the mountain at the transfiguration of Christ. Peter, James and John are there and they want to just set up shop on the mountain. God, of course, had a different plan.
Tradition is great, especially something like the Passover that is filled with prophecy regarding the Messiah, Jesus Christ. But, I tend to want to look at things differently. Elijah has already gotten to do his thing. He probably won’t be showing up for dinner at my table even if I were to save him a glass of wine. Jesus Christ is here. Now. Aren’t we required then to look at things differently?
So, who will be showing up at my table for dinner? Who will be showing up at your table for dinner? I’ll tell you that at my house Larry is coming for dinner. We are all really excited about it too. We aren’t sure how we will communicate with him because Larry is deaf. I don’t know anything else about Larry. God knows everything about him though.
A year or so ago, God hit me over the head with a scripture I had never noticed. In Luke 14, Jesus is dining in the home of a Pharisee. Everybody is making a big deal about who is going to sit at the head of the table. Jesus gives them some advice about being humble and then he gives it, the challenge: “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then, at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” Wow! Trust me; I’m not godly for inviting Larry to eat with us because he is deaf. I’m just literal and that happens to be someone who God put in my life. That’s really the point. Who is the Larry in your life?
As cool as Elijah is, he’s not coming to dinner. But, because of Jesus Christ, Larry is.
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Pray that people in our Community Groups would grow in love and concern for one another.
Monday, August 28, 2006
This is the Year - Countdown Day 10
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Luke 4:18-19
“God’s favor” is a popular subject these days. Since we are materialists, we often envision God’s favor in terms of physical comfort and material provision. Our preaching then draws upon Old Testament passages to produce a New Testament gospel that makes God the cosmic vending machine and the coins our faith. ‘Put in enough faith and you’ll receive God’s favor.’ It’s Christianity’s counterpart to “Think and Grow Rich.”
But Jesus draws upon a passage in Isaiah to proclaim that the Lord’s favor is at hand. It has arrived. “This is the year of the Lord’s favor.” It has come with the arrival of Jesus. No more waiting. It’s here!
The good news of the Lord’s favor is for the “poor.” It’s for people whose souls are restless and desperate. That includes me. I hope we all have a sense of how poor we are. I hope we have a deep recognition that apart from God’s mercy and unmerited favor, we are bankrupt spiritually. If we have a sense of this poverty, Jesus has good news for us. It’s a message of freedom, a message of clarity, a message of release.
Do you feel captive to a series of thoughts, emotions, and circumstances? Jesus has come to free you from this prison. You are free. Are you unclear about God’s purposes? Perplexed about your future? Jesus has come to make you see clearly. He wants to heal your blindness. Are you oppressed today? Do you have a burden that is too great for you to bear? Jesus has come to free you from this oppression. No more burden.
The Lord’s favor is not for us just to receive, but to pass on. Who do you know that is suffering from captivity, blindness and oppression? Can you take some time to pass along the good news of the Lord’s favor? Sometimes this might just mean listening to them, encouraging them and praying for them. Sometimes it might mean that you are the physical source of God’s favor to them.
This is “the year of the Lord’s favor” at Fellowship of Memorial. Not because we are anticipating material abundance, but because we are hoping that he will use us to “free prisoners, recover the blind and release the oppressed” in our community. I’m looking forward to sharing in the Lord’s favor with you this year.
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Pray that God would provide guidance for youth outreach and ministry
“God’s favor” is a popular subject these days. Since we are materialists, we often envision God’s favor in terms of physical comfort and material provision. Our preaching then draws upon Old Testament passages to produce a New Testament gospel that makes God the cosmic vending machine and the coins our faith. ‘Put in enough faith and you’ll receive God’s favor.’ It’s Christianity’s counterpart to “Think and Grow Rich.”
But Jesus draws upon a passage in Isaiah to proclaim that the Lord’s favor is at hand. It has arrived. “This is the year of the Lord’s favor.” It has come with the arrival of Jesus. No more waiting. It’s here!
The good news of the Lord’s favor is for the “poor.” It’s for people whose souls are restless and desperate. That includes me. I hope we all have a sense of how poor we are. I hope we have a deep recognition that apart from God’s mercy and unmerited favor, we are bankrupt spiritually. If we have a sense of this poverty, Jesus has good news for us. It’s a message of freedom, a message of clarity, a message of release.
Do you feel captive to a series of thoughts, emotions, and circumstances? Jesus has come to free you from this prison. You are free. Are you unclear about God’s purposes? Perplexed about your future? Jesus has come to make you see clearly. He wants to heal your blindness. Are you oppressed today? Do you have a burden that is too great for you to bear? Jesus has come to free you from this oppression. No more burden.
The Lord’s favor is not for us just to receive, but to pass on. Who do you know that is suffering from captivity, blindness and oppression? Can you take some time to pass along the good news of the Lord’s favor? Sometimes this might just mean listening to them, encouraging them and praying for them. Sometimes it might mean that you are the physical source of God’s favor to them.
This is “the year of the Lord’s favor” at Fellowship of Memorial. Not because we are anticipating material abundance, but because we are hoping that he will use us to “free prisoners, recover the blind and release the oppressed” in our community. I’m looking forward to sharing in the Lord’s favor with you this year.
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Pray that God would provide guidance for youth outreach and ministry
Friday, August 25, 2006
Lessons from a Dog - Day 11
My precious "niece dogs" are staying with us this week. My favorite thing is to take them for a walk each morning. They adore me for it (especially as I'm the only one who does it!). They follow me around the house throughout the day in hopes that at any moment I'll get their leashes. They are the sweetest dogs God ever made, I'm pretty sure. (Not that I am biased!) This morning I took them for our regular special time together around the block and as I turned the corner to come back home I decided to run with them so they'd be extra pooped and ready to rest for the next several hours. First they ran along side of me, then they ran slightly behind me, then, without warning, Bella came to a full stop! I nearly fell and broke my neck! I turned immediately to see this dog with both front paws planted on the cement and her head down and pulling back against the leash.
This is a very sweet, obedient dog. I was shocked! It was as if she were saying, "Look, I'll sit when you tell me. I'll lay down when you tell me. I'll stay with you on the walk and not chase other dogs. But do NOT make me run anymore!" She was done. She was absolutely finished. She'd had it. After all, we've all got our limits.
I never thought of myself as a dog before but I saw myself in that moment. Oh, I pray to God like I'm supposed to. I'll give my 10%+ to the church. I'll donate toys to the poor. I'll even volunteer to help my church with this project or that but I've got my limits. God, don't ask me to do something I'm not willing to do! I'm tired. I'm busy. I've got plans.
I hand God control voluntarily just like Bella and Kahki bring me their leashes. They trust me to take them for a walk and bring them home safely. But the moment God asks me to do something outside of my comfort, my control, I put on the full stop. "God, you can't be serious. God, what's the five year plan on this thing? How's this going to turn out? Can't you see I'm just a human? What do you expect from me?"
God is clear in what he promises: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12) He promises other things too, like trouble, persecution, suffering...but, wow, he also promises we'll never walk in darkness. Not only will we NOT walk in darkness but we'll have the light of life! Not just any light, not fluorescent light, not candlelight, not sunlight - life light!
Are we willing to run when we're tired? Are we willing to leave God in control? Are we willing to submit our wills to his even when it's the opposite of what our flesh desires?
My prayer for FOM today is this:
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." (2 Cor. 6:3-10)
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Pray that we would be good stewards of the spiritual gifts God has given our church.
Consider fasting from one meal this weekend and pray for the people God wants to reach through FOM.
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Posted by Lisa Archinal
This is a very sweet, obedient dog. I was shocked! It was as if she were saying, "Look, I'll sit when you tell me. I'll lay down when you tell me. I'll stay with you on the walk and not chase other dogs. But do NOT make me run anymore!" She was done. She was absolutely finished. She'd had it. After all, we've all got our limits.
I never thought of myself as a dog before but I saw myself in that moment. Oh, I pray to God like I'm supposed to. I'll give my 10%+ to the church. I'll donate toys to the poor. I'll even volunteer to help my church with this project or that but I've got my limits. God, don't ask me to do something I'm not willing to do! I'm tired. I'm busy. I've got plans.
I hand God control voluntarily just like Bella and Kahki bring me their leashes. They trust me to take them for a walk and bring them home safely. But the moment God asks me to do something outside of my comfort, my control, I put on the full stop. "God, you can't be serious. God, what's the five year plan on this thing? How's this going to turn out? Can't you see I'm just a human? What do you expect from me?"
God is clear in what he promises: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12) He promises other things too, like trouble, persecution, suffering...but, wow, he also promises we'll never walk in darkness. Not only will we NOT walk in darkness but we'll have the light of life! Not just any light, not fluorescent light, not candlelight, not sunlight - life light!
Are we willing to run when we're tired? Are we willing to leave God in control? Are we willing to submit our wills to his even when it's the opposite of what our flesh desires?
My prayer for FOM today is this:
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." (2 Cor. 6:3-10)
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Pray that we would be good stewards of the spiritual gifts God has given our church.
Consider fasting from one meal this weekend and pray for the people God wants to reach through FOM.
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Posted by Lisa Archinal
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Called Out - Countdown Day 12
Church is not a place. If you're referring to church as a place, please stop. If you hear me refer to church as a place...please stop to remind me that I'm a hypocrite!
Our translation of church is poor, mostly because we can't find an English word that closely matches the Greek word we are attempting to understand, "ekklesia." "Ek" means "out," and "kaleo" means "to call." Those who were called out. Set apart. At the time of the original writings, "ekklesia" had political connotations which far exceeded any religious connotations. It was understood to be a group called out to look after and grow the Kingdom of God. I am afraid the word "church" in our culture just does not communicate that.
Church is not a place. Church is people. Church is US. We are part of the very people called out to look after and grow God's Kingdom. I'm thankful that our "place" at the Playhouse is not yet considered a church, in the traditional sense, because it helps us to all be very aware that the church is the very people we worship with and work out our faiths with. Fellowship of Memorial isn't a place...it's a people. I pray that's always so real to us, no matter where God might lead us.
Remember that we are called out. We are set apart. And in the Kingdom of this upside-down, inside-out God, that doesn't mean we are served, but rather that we get to serve. It doesn't mean that we get to go first, but rather that we get to go last. And by following this path we somehow, mystically and practically, become more like Christ.
We can become easily distracted from this. Our world values the easy road. How much of our culture is built around the concept of some new contraption or solution that can make it "easier" on us? But this faith we are committed to is anything but easy. And in that sense, it is exactly the sort of thing the culture around us would ordinarily reject. Let's not be distracted. Let's not be distracted by the world's message or our desires to live for ourselves, always demanding more than what God has deemed sufficient. Instead, let's live to what we were called out for in our selfless service to our community and to each other, which will call attention to the One we love. "And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." - Acts 2:47
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Pray that technical issues on Sundays would not cause a distraction to his purposes.
Our translation of church is poor, mostly because we can't find an English word that closely matches the Greek word we are attempting to understand, "ekklesia." "Ek" means "out," and "kaleo" means "to call." Those who were called out. Set apart. At the time of the original writings, "ekklesia" had political connotations which far exceeded any religious connotations. It was understood to be a group called out to look after and grow the Kingdom of God. I am afraid the word "church" in our culture just does not communicate that.
Church is not a place. Church is people. Church is US. We are part of the very people called out to look after and grow God's Kingdom. I'm thankful that our "place" at the Playhouse is not yet considered a church, in the traditional sense, because it helps us to all be very aware that the church is the very people we worship with and work out our faiths with. Fellowship of Memorial isn't a place...it's a people. I pray that's always so real to us, no matter where God might lead us.
Remember that we are called out. We are set apart. And in the Kingdom of this upside-down, inside-out God, that doesn't mean we are served, but rather that we get to serve. It doesn't mean that we get to go first, but rather that we get to go last. And by following this path we somehow, mystically and practically, become more like Christ.
We can become easily distracted from this. Our world values the easy road. How much of our culture is built around the concept of some new contraption or solution that can make it "easier" on us? But this faith we are committed to is anything but easy. And in that sense, it is exactly the sort of thing the culture around us would ordinarily reject. Let's not be distracted. Let's not be distracted by the world's message or our desires to live for ourselves, always demanding more than what God has deemed sufficient. Instead, let's live to what we were called out for in our selfless service to our community and to each other, which will call attention to the One we love. "And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." - Acts 2:47
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Pray that technical issues on Sundays would not cause a distraction to his purposes.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Getting What's Asked - Countdown Day 13
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
This statement sounds incredible. ASK and it shall be given. It sounds amazing, doesn’t it? It sounds almost unbelievable right? Imagine if all you had to do to get anything you wanted out of life is ASK. It sounds a little farfetched doesn’t it? This summer I thought it would be good for all of our kids to ask for something specific for FOM. So Mary Cate has been praying for a new location, Jack has been praying for God to bring lost people to FOM "so they can learn about Him", and Ellie has been asking "to please bring all the actors back to KidzPlanet safely." Nothing sweeter than the prayer of a child!
Last night as we prayed at the dinner table Ellie led...and prayed for mommy to get a Scooby Doo video at the store, then Mary Cate asked if she could pray something. She said, "And thank you God for giving us a place to have KidzPlanet and our worship service." It about made me cry on the spot. You know what Mary Cate reminded me of last night? That God is still in the business of not just hearing what we ask for, but ANSWERING. What is your prayer for FOM today. Maybe you will echo the prayers of Jack and Ellie. Maybe you have a friend that needs to hear the good news of Christ and you need to ask for courage to invite them. I challenge you today to ask for people to come! I challenge you today to pray for our actors. I challenge you today to ASK for something!
Oh yeah a few things Mary Cate reminded me about this whole ASK thing: Keep asking! (pray consistently about your request) and say "Thanks!" when God has answered your prayer. By the way, the simple fact that you are reading this blog tells me that God is still in the business of answering prayers! I've been praying for "people to come with us" on this FOM journey for a long time. It doesn't matter how big or how small your "ask" is...just ask. Who knows, Ellie might even end up with her Scooby Doo video. :)
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Pray for individuals in our church that they would grow in relationship with God
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Posted by Chris Archinal
This statement sounds incredible. ASK and it shall be given. It sounds amazing, doesn’t it? It sounds almost unbelievable right? Imagine if all you had to do to get anything you wanted out of life is ASK. It sounds a little farfetched doesn’t it? This summer I thought it would be good for all of our kids to ask for something specific for FOM. So Mary Cate has been praying for a new location, Jack has been praying for God to bring lost people to FOM "so they can learn about Him", and Ellie has been asking "to please bring all the actors back to KidzPlanet safely." Nothing sweeter than the prayer of a child!
Last night as we prayed at the dinner table Ellie led...and prayed for mommy to get a Scooby Doo video at the store, then Mary Cate asked if she could pray something. She said, "And thank you God for giving us a place to have KidzPlanet and our worship service." It about made me cry on the spot. You know what Mary Cate reminded me of last night? That God is still in the business of not just hearing what we ask for, but ANSWERING. What is your prayer for FOM today. Maybe you will echo the prayers of Jack and Ellie. Maybe you have a friend that needs to hear the good news of Christ and you need to ask for courage to invite them. I challenge you today to ask for people to come! I challenge you today to pray for our actors. I challenge you today to ASK for something!
Oh yeah a few things Mary Cate reminded me about this whole ASK thing: Keep asking! (pray consistently about your request) and say "Thanks!" when God has answered your prayer. By the way, the simple fact that you are reading this blog tells me that God is still in the business of answering prayers! I've been praying for "people to come with us" on this FOM journey for a long time. It doesn't matter how big or how small your "ask" is...just ask. Who knows, Ellie might even end up with her Scooby Doo video. :)
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Pray for individuals in our church that they would grow in relationship with God
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Posted by Chris Archinal
Monday, August 21, 2006
Empty - Countdown Day 14
Empty. Dull. Unproductive. Barren.
How can we be children of God, bought by Christ and yet, at times, be filled with feelings of emptiness? I could espouse on all of the possible explanations. We all know the drill….Adam and Eve in the garden messed everything up, etc. The knowledge of this never really helps though because at the end of it I still feel barren. Society tells me not to feel this way and to aid me there are countless things I could do or drugs I could take to help me not really feel anything. I’m not interested in that way though. It’s impossible to put a Band-Aid on a chasm.
In all of this, the voice of God speaks to my spirit and says, “Behold, I make all things new.” I hear it all around me, comforting me even in my restless sleep. His way is not to try and make it all go away. It doesn’t come anywhere close to looking like instant gratification. Instead, it is a steady, never-ending flow of love, encompassing my being. His love that knows how ugly my thoughts are and still loves. His love that asks for nothing in return and still gives. His love that is enough. “Behold, I make all things new," becomes the salve that slowly starts to heal the hole in my heart. When I am suppliant, then and only then, does He show me His glory. Through Scripture, He reminds me that He is the God of Ezekiel 37, capable of breathing His Spirit into dry bones and making them whole.
At times, I still feel barren and empty but, I am learning to thank Him for these moments, in spite of the pain. The beauty of His voice spoken into my broken spirit is rich with blessing. “Behold, I make all things new.” I am so very thankful for that!
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Pray for individuals in our church that they would grow in their love for people who are outside of faith in God.
How can we be children of God, bought by Christ and yet, at times, be filled with feelings of emptiness? I could espouse on all of the possible explanations. We all know the drill….Adam and Eve in the garden messed everything up, etc. The knowledge of this never really helps though because at the end of it I still feel barren. Society tells me not to feel this way and to aid me there are countless things I could do or drugs I could take to help me not really feel anything. I’m not interested in that way though. It’s impossible to put a Band-Aid on a chasm.
In all of this, the voice of God speaks to my spirit and says, “Behold, I make all things new.” I hear it all around me, comforting me even in my restless sleep. His way is not to try and make it all go away. It doesn’t come anywhere close to looking like instant gratification. Instead, it is a steady, never-ending flow of love, encompassing my being. His love that knows how ugly my thoughts are and still loves. His love that asks for nothing in return and still gives. His love that is enough. “Behold, I make all things new," becomes the salve that slowly starts to heal the hole in my heart. When I am suppliant, then and only then, does He show me His glory. Through Scripture, He reminds me that He is the God of Ezekiel 37, capable of breathing His Spirit into dry bones and making them whole.
At times, I still feel barren and empty but, I am learning to thank Him for these moments, in spite of the pain. The beauty of His voice spoken into my broken spirit is rich with blessing. “Behold, I make all things new.” I am so very thankful for that!
----------------------------
Pray for individuals in our church that they would grow in their love for people who are outside of faith in God.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Destination a Journey - Countdown Day 15
Luke 9:1-6
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
We're going on a journey, but you can't take anything along. You can't prepare for this journey. We may sleep in some places that are uncomfortable. We may eat different food. We may eat less food. It might get hot out there. It might get cold. After a few days, we may smell a little different. We'll certainly have to borrow a few things along the way.
Parts of the journey will be very steep so we'll need endurance. Other parts will be smooth. We'll need to avoid complacency there. There is a dangerous precipice along the way. We'll need courage to traverse it.
Thankfully, we won't be traveling alone. We'll have a guide. Our guide will be essential because he is the only one who has been there before. But this is not a journey that can be accomplished even with a guide. We'll need a group. The guide would never take us on this journey without a group.
On this journey, we won't have a destination that can be found on a map. Don't let that frighten you. There are things that have been prepared for us to do along the way. Good things. If we are not distracted, we will recognize those things when they arrive.
After we have traveled for a while, we will realize that we have been arriving at our destination all along. We'll realize that the journey was our destination and that we have been changed along the way.
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Pray today that God would provide the financial resources to accomplish his purposes through FOM
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
We're going on a journey, but you can't take anything along. You can't prepare for this journey. We may sleep in some places that are uncomfortable. We may eat different food. We may eat less food. It might get hot out there. It might get cold. After a few days, we may smell a little different. We'll certainly have to borrow a few things along the way.
Parts of the journey will be very steep so we'll need endurance. Other parts will be smooth. We'll need to avoid complacency there. There is a dangerous precipice along the way. We'll need courage to traverse it.
Thankfully, we won't be traveling alone. We'll have a guide. Our guide will be essential because he is the only one who has been there before. But this is not a journey that can be accomplished even with a guide. We'll need a group. The guide would never take us on this journey without a group.
On this journey, we won't have a destination that can be found on a map. Don't let that frighten you. There are things that have been prepared for us to do along the way. Good things. If we are not distracted, we will recognize those things when they arrive.
After we have traveled for a while, we will realize that we have been arriving at our destination all along. We'll realize that the journey was our destination and that we have been changed along the way.
--------------------
Pray today that God would provide the financial resources to accomplish his purposes through FOM
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Love for Community - Countdown Day 17
I heard a presentation once at a conference that stuck with me. The speaker asked us listeners to shut our eyes and imagine our Sunday mornings getting ready for church. Shaving; brushing teeth and hair; chasing down and dressing up kids; throwing down pop-tarts and driving to this place we call church. In that setting, he asked us to consider what was going on around us in our community as we prepared for church those mornings. Did we consider the hurting going on all around us? The lies? Divorce next door? Insecurity across the street? Financial stress around the corner? Broken relationships? Pain? The real lives of the real people who we call neighbors?
In our community in West Houston, that pain is real. Yeah, it is masked and covered up with surroundings and accessories to make us look like we're the people on the pages of the catalogues we receive. But this community is like every other. Affected by the tragedy of lives disconnected from God and faith placed in fleeting things. And in all this mess and filth and hiding and hurt is Christ asking us, the Church - his body, to put him on display for this community.
In Mark 6:31, we find Jesus seeking a quiet place with his disciples to get some rest. His disciples had just gone out on their own through the villages for the first time to share all that they were learning from their rabbi. So verse 32 tells us they take a boat to what they believe will be a solitary place; but they find it's not so solitary. A group of people ran ahead of them on the land to meet them as they came ashore. I don't know what these people looked like, but I'm guessing they were of all kinds. Men, women, children, poor, not-so-poor. And verse 34 very subtly suggests how amazing this Jesus is. Because he looks on them and sees they are without a guide. They have no shepherd. They may be smiling in anticipation. But he sees them as lost and hurting in a very deep way. And it says he had compassion on them. He's tired. His disciples are tired. They sought quiet solitude. But Christ is led by compassion, and that changes everything.
Let us be led by compassion. Not in an obnoxious or arrogant or misplaced way. Not in a way that suggests we have all the answers. But led by compassion in the understanding that pain surrounds us, but it's not the end of the story. Christ's compassion caused him to see these people differently. What if we became that? What if we truly saw those around us in our neighborhoods and supermarkets and little league ballparks with compassion? What if we engaged them in our lives? How would that transform us? And how would that lead to transformation for them? How would our lives and their lives be better?
------------------------
Pray that we might be inspired by Christ's love for people. Pray that we might have the wit and wisdom and imagination to share His love. That we might love our community enough to meet them right where they are, introducing them, perhaps for the first time, to the One who loves them beyond measure.
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Posted by Brett Moyer
In our community in West Houston, that pain is real. Yeah, it is masked and covered up with surroundings and accessories to make us look like we're the people on the pages of the catalogues we receive. But this community is like every other. Affected by the tragedy of lives disconnected from God and faith placed in fleeting things. And in all this mess and filth and hiding and hurt is Christ asking us, the Church - his body, to put him on display for this community.
In Mark 6:31, we find Jesus seeking a quiet place with his disciples to get some rest. His disciples had just gone out on their own through the villages for the first time to share all that they were learning from their rabbi. So verse 32 tells us they take a boat to what they believe will be a solitary place; but they find it's not so solitary. A group of people ran ahead of them on the land to meet them as they came ashore. I don't know what these people looked like, but I'm guessing they were of all kinds. Men, women, children, poor, not-so-poor. And verse 34 very subtly suggests how amazing this Jesus is. Because he looks on them and sees they are without a guide. They have no shepherd. They may be smiling in anticipation. But he sees them as lost and hurting in a very deep way. And it says he had compassion on them. He's tired. His disciples are tired. They sought quiet solitude. But Christ is led by compassion, and that changes everything.
Let us be led by compassion. Not in an obnoxious or arrogant or misplaced way. Not in a way that suggests we have all the answers. But led by compassion in the understanding that pain surrounds us, but it's not the end of the story. Christ's compassion caused him to see these people differently. What if we became that? What if we truly saw those around us in our neighborhoods and supermarkets and little league ballparks with compassion? What if we engaged them in our lives? How would that transform us? And how would that lead to transformation for them? How would our lives and their lives be better?
------------------------
Pray that we might be inspired by Christ's love for people. Pray that we might have the wit and wisdom and imagination to share His love. That we might love our community enough to meet them right where they are, introducing them, perhaps for the first time, to the One who loves them beyond measure.
--------------------
Posted by Brett Moyer
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
5 Drinks for Breakfast - Countdown Day 18
As a part of my job (outside of FOM) I travel a lot. This week I have been in Toronto (still here at the time of writing) and I noticed something funny this morning. After I worked out I went back to my room and showered then went down for breakfast. I was eating alone and begin to laugh at myself when I looked up and noticed what was on my table. I had my typical eggs over easy with crispy bacon, a bowl of Special K and some fruit, but just beyond the plate of food sat the following: orange juice, ice water, coffee, skim milk and chocolate milk (I'm still a kid at heart). 5 drinks for breakfast...and I was responsible for ordering each one of them! Holy cow, why did I need 5 drinks to choke down my eggs and bacon. I realized that my workout had left me parched and everything in liquid form sounded good, so I basically just ordered one of each. Wouldn't water have done the trick?! I dissected it further (remember I'm eating alone so analyzing my "drinking habit" was something to pass the time I suppose) and rationalized it by saying, "Well, the orange juice is good for vitamin C, the water is to quench my thirst from working out, the coffee is to wake me up, the skim milk is for my cereal and the chocolate milk, uh, er, well, that's my creature comfort." It's a silly comparison, but my mind wondered further as I begin to think about the people we are trying to reach through God's work in and through FOM. The people we are trying to reach aren't much different then me in this experience.
You see everyone is thirsty. Our daily life, or "workout", leaves us parched. As believers we turn to the One who quenches our thirst. So much so that He boldly professes that if we drink of His well we will never thirst again. Non Christ followers don't have the ultimate thirst quencher so they will fill their lives with things that seem to quench their thirst, even if it is just for the moment. The OJ, water, coffee, skim milk and chocolate milk turn into relationships, material possessions, status, climbing the corporate ladder, having more stuff, etc. Not all of those things are bad, but in and of themselves they are not thirst quenchers.
Isaiah 41:17-20 says: The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together: that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
FOMers, there are poor and needy people around us. Not necessarily financially, but spiritually...people in Memorial are running empty on a full tank. Full of stuff, but empty of God. The soul of man is itself empty and needy, seeking for satisfaction somewhere, but soon despairs of finding it in the world. God wants to open the rivers, fountains, pools of water and springs! And he wants to do it for the purpose of revealing himself! So how will you let God use you to help reveal Himself to the poor and needy of Memorial? Pray today that God will allow you the opportunity today to invite someone to be a part of our September 10 KidzPlanet and FOM worship service Fall Kick-off...that they may see, and know, and consider, and
understand together, that God has done this!
-----------------------
Pray for individuals in our church that they would grow in relationship with God
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Posted by Chris Archinal
You see everyone is thirsty. Our daily life, or "workout", leaves us parched. As believers we turn to the One who quenches our thirst. So much so that He boldly professes that if we drink of His well we will never thirst again. Non Christ followers don't have the ultimate thirst quencher so they will fill their lives with things that seem to quench their thirst, even if it is just for the moment. The OJ, water, coffee, skim milk and chocolate milk turn into relationships, material possessions, status, climbing the corporate ladder, having more stuff, etc. Not all of those things are bad, but in and of themselves they are not thirst quenchers.
Isaiah 41:17-20 says: The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together: that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
FOMers, there are poor and needy people around us. Not necessarily financially, but spiritually...people in Memorial are running empty on a full tank. Full of stuff, but empty of God. The soul of man is itself empty and needy, seeking for satisfaction somewhere, but soon despairs of finding it in the world. God wants to open the rivers, fountains, pools of water and springs! And he wants to do it for the purpose of revealing himself! So how will you let God use you to help reveal Himself to the poor and needy of Memorial? Pray today that God will allow you the opportunity today to invite someone to be a part of our September 10 KidzPlanet and FOM worship service Fall Kick-off...that they may see, and know, and consider, and
understand together, that God has done this!
-----------------------
Pray for individuals in our church that they would grow in relationship with God
--------------
Posted by Chris Archinal
Monday, August 14, 2006
Donkey Mentality - Countdown Day 19
A pastor referred to Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and asked: "What if the donkey on which Jesus was riding had thought all the cheering was for him? What if that small animal had believed that the hosannas and the branches were in his honor?" The minister then pointed to himself and said: "I'm a donkey. The longer I'm here the more you'll come to realize that. I am only a Christ-bearer and not the object of praise."
Well, as it is true for this minister so it is very true for me. Lord, protect me from ever thinking any praise is comin' my way! May you receive all the honor and glory you deserve. May I always be willing to carry you through the crowds of lost souls to display your life and your love.
If we could develop a healthy "donkey mentality" what an asset that would be as we walk through this FOM ministry. Instead of wondering what people think of us, our concern would be, "Can they see Christ Jesus, the King?" Rather than seeking credit for service rendered, we would be content to lift up the Lord.
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Pray today that technical issues on Sundays would not cause a distraction to His purposes.
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Posted by Lisa Archinal
Well, as it is true for this minister so it is very true for me. Lord, protect me from ever thinking any praise is comin' my way! May you receive all the honor and glory you deserve. May I always be willing to carry you through the crowds of lost souls to display your life and your love.
If we could develop a healthy "donkey mentality" what an asset that would be as we walk through this FOM ministry. Instead of wondering what people think of us, our concern would be, "Can they see Christ Jesus, the King?" Rather than seeking credit for service rendered, we would be content to lift up the Lord.
-----------------------------------------------
Pray today that technical issues on Sundays would not cause a distraction to His purposes.
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Posted by Lisa Archinal
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Avoiding Growth-Free Plantings - Countdown Day 20
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow - 1 Corinthians 3:7
Last Spring, my three boys took the flower seeds they got as the KidzPlanet monthly virtue tool and each planted them in separate paper cups. They then began to water them regularly and watch for signs of germination. We unwisely planted them in a shallow depth of horrible Texas clay and left them to simmer in the 93 degree heat. Nevertheless, two of the flower cups germinated and eventually grew stems. One of the cups never grew anything but a few weeds. I've wondered about that since then. All three sets of flower seeds were planted in the same conditions and treated equally. One of them never grew. The growing didn't depend so much on the planting and watering.
Today we begin a 20-Day Prayer Countdown to the kick-off of KidzPlanet and Sunday worship at Fellowship of Memorial. While there is plenty of gritty labor to be done before the September 10 kick-off, we want to put more energy and focus on prayer. Why? We believe that enormous effort can be applied to planting and watering this ministry and it might be in vain. It might not create any real growth. God must provide the growth. And for us, that growth means lives that are transformed for his glory. Since we are focused on spiritual transformation, we are deeply aware that God's Spirit must bear the fruit. We will be calling on him in various ways throughout the next month to grow fruit in the community through the FOM.
Join us as we begin this journey. Take a few minutes each day to read the blogs and pray over each daily request. We'll plant and water this ministry together while we ask God to create the growth.
----------------------
Pray today that God would bring people to FOM environments who are seeking a relationship with him
Last Spring, my three boys took the flower seeds they got as the KidzPlanet monthly virtue tool and each planted them in separate paper cups. They then began to water them regularly and watch for signs of germination. We unwisely planted them in a shallow depth of horrible Texas clay and left them to simmer in the 93 degree heat. Nevertheless, two of the flower cups germinated and eventually grew stems. One of the cups never grew anything but a few weeds. I've wondered about that since then. All three sets of flower seeds were planted in the same conditions and treated equally. One of them never grew. The growing didn't depend so much on the planting and watering.
Today we begin a 20-Day Prayer Countdown to the kick-off of KidzPlanet and Sunday worship at Fellowship of Memorial. While there is plenty of gritty labor to be done before the September 10 kick-off, we want to put more energy and focus on prayer. Why? We believe that enormous effort can be applied to planting and watering this ministry and it might be in vain. It might not create any real growth. God must provide the growth. And for us, that growth means lives that are transformed for his glory. Since we are focused on spiritual transformation, we are deeply aware that God's Spirit must bear the fruit. We will be calling on him in various ways throughout the next month to grow fruit in the community through the FOM.
Join us as we begin this journey. Take a few minutes each day to read the blogs and pray over each daily request. We'll plant and water this ministry together while we ask God to create the growth.
----------------------
Pray today that God would bring people to FOM environments who are seeking a relationship with him
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